The IASB Office of General Counsel offers numerous guidance documents to help provide clarity and understanding for a number of complicated laws and legal issues that impact local school governance. From state laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA) to election and referendum questions, and federal education policy that includes the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and student privacy concerns, IASB and the Illinois Council of School Attorneys (ICSA) provide straightforward, easy-to-use resources to assist local school boards in understanding these issues.
These documents are intended for guidance purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice. Due to frequent changes to law, school boards are advised to consult with their legal counsel for legal advice.
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Understanding Illinois Personnel Records Review Act (September 2021)
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Managing Challenging Public Comment Periods (July 2021)
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Answers to FAQs Regarding the Student Online Personal Protection Act and Public Schools (April 2021 by ICSA)
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PRESS & ISBE/IDPH Reopening Guidelines (July 2020)
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Conflict of Interest and Incompatible Offices FAQ (Revised May 2018 by ICSA)
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Gift Ban FAQ (Revised July 2018 by ICSA)
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Referendum FAQ (Revised August 2019 by ICSA)
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Vacancies on the Board of Education (Revised March 2020 by ICSA)
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Janus v. AFSCME: Implementation Issues for School Boards (June 2018 by ICSA)
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Answers to FAQs Regarding Students with Divorced or Divorcing Parents (February 2019 by ICSA)
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Service Animals Factsheet Q & A (January 2019)
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Transgender Students: Legal Issues (Updated August 2019)
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Guidelines for Interviews of Students (Revised September 2020 by ICSA)
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Memorandum of Understanding for School District & Local Law Enforcement Agency (March 2016)
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Responding to a Subpoena (Revised January 2015 by ICSA)
FOIA and OMA
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Letting the Sunshine in: School Board Meetings and Records (October 2017 - currently under revision, update expected soon)
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Could a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request be Phishing? (June 2018)
- Recent Court Decisions concerning FOIA or OMA
Federal Resources
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Coronavirus Guidance (March 2020, published by NSBA)
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Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model (May 2019)
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Cyber and Data Security (July 2018, published by NSBA)
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Lifting the Lamp Beside the Schoolhouse Door: A Legal Guide to Serving Undocumented Students in Public Schools (July 2017, published by NSBA)
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Every Student Succeeds Act (March 2016)
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Navigating Student Walkouts and Mass Protests (February 2018, Published by NSBA)
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Guidance for Schools and Districts About Ebola (December 2014)
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Coercion, Conscience, and the First Amendment: A Legal Guide for Public Schools on the Regulation of Student and Employee Speech (January 2018, Published by NSBA)
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NSBA 'Data in the Cloud' Guidance Documents (Student Data Privacy) (April 2014)
- Employer-Provided Leave and the Americans with Disabilities Act (May 2016)